Sunday, September 21, 2008

artifact: Etagere

My artifact was designed and made by Julius Dessoir between the years 1851-1866 and was made in the U.S.A. The cabinet was titled Etagere and was made out of rosewood and maple. It has a glass mirror and brass accents. The tabletops half-oval shape is supported by four elegantly, detailed scroll legs. The piece has two shelves with smoothly shaped profile edges. The piece also contains a lot of intricate design and scrollwork. On the table front there is a centralized drawer, completed with a rectangular brass-locking device.There are similarities between my cabinet by Julius Dessoir and the sofa designed by John H. Belter. This sofa was designed in the same time period as the cabinet, between the years 1850-1860. The cabinet was constructed of rosewood, for the frame, and upholstery for the seat and seatback. This cabinet by Julius Dessoir was produced in the U.S.Dessoir and Belter are both among the most recognized cabinetmakers producing high-style furnishings in the Rococo Revival style in the nineteenth-century. Both artifacts were intricately carved out of rosewood. Not only were the same materials used in both pieces, their styles were both similar as well. The only apparent difference between the two pieces is the size, which is not too much different, and the makers of them. However they’re both affiliated with Rococo Revival style.The next artifact that compares to my cabinet by Dessoir is the center table by Herter Brothers. This table was made in 1877-78, only 20 years after the cabinet was produced. The table was produced in America, as was the cabinet. Both artifacts have similar styles, with a lot of detail. The artifacts both include maple, however the table consists of bronze as well.As with my first comparison, the differences between two artifacts were the dimensions and the designers. And also, the piece was constructed two decades later than the cabinet was.